SUE BAILEY will have two chances over the next week to become a world champion for the first time in her career.
The Dodworth woman is representing Great Britain in the World Para Table Tennis Championships in Granada, Spain which run from Sunday until Friday.
She has won two silver medals and a bronze at world level during a remarkable career which has seen her compete at six Paralympics.
Succcess next week would complete an excellent couple of years after she took her first ever Paralympic medal with bronze at Tokyo last year.
Bailey’s ultimate goal is the Paris Paralympics in 2024, and she is working under new coach Shaun Marples.
Sue, 50, will compete in both the individual and mixed doubles events.
She said: “Two golds would be great.
“Unfortunately I can’t go for three because my women’s doubles partner didn’t qualify.
“Obviously we’re going there to medal, otherwise we wouldn’t be going.
“It would be brilliant to win it.
“I have a new coach, training is going well and I am feeling really positive.
“I have been playing well and getting my ranking back up. I am world number seven now.
“It’s exactly the same standard as the Paralympics. It’s always a really good tournament.
“You used to have group stages in the World Championships but now it’s a straight knock-out which will make it really challenging.”
On her mixed doubles chances with Jack Hunter-Spivey, Sue said: “We have only played once together but got a silver in a tournament in Greece this year.
“We want to improve on that.
“We would love to win it.
“He’s highly ranked so it should be a good partnership.”
Bailey was disappointed to miss out on a medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham earlier in the year.
“Unfortunately there were lots of incidents in the run-up involving organisers of the event and people I was working with at the time who really affected my confidence.
“With it being such a mentally challenging sport and having the pressure of a home games in front of all those people, you need to work with people who believe in you.
“Our head coach left just before and there wasn’t a support network.
“I have changed coaches and my coach now is so positive.”
Bailey is now playing in the able-bodied Sheffield League and Barnsley League, as well as for the South Yorkshire team.
She said: “My parents played in the Sheffield and Barnsley League when I first got into the sport.
“There were no accessible venues in Barnsley so I stopped playing there.
“But we are now based at Higham Methodist Chapel, who have been brilliant with us.
“It’s one of my training bases, and all the teams in the league come to us. It’s really nice to play in my hometown.”
